Page 20 of Bestie's Bossy Billionaire Brother
“Hi,” I say back, laughing lightly. “I’m just calling to let you know Oliver is finally home.”
The enthusiasm dies from her voice as she responds with an exasperated sigh. “It took him long enough,” she groans.
I chuckle as I apply a lipstick that’s siren red and glossy. “He’s been busy at work.”
“He knew we had plans,” she quips. “He should have respected them. Anyway, I’ll take it up with him when I get there.”
I smile to myself. “See you soon.”
I hang up the phone and look at my reflection in the mirror. I take a deep breath.
“Just have fun tonight, Catherine,” I say to soothe my nerves.
I give my reflection one last glance before heading back downstairs. Oliver is watching TV with Alice on the sofa, both of them lost in their own worlds as they laugh at something on the screen.
Seeing them together brings a warmth to my heart that I haven’t felt in a long time. The sun is just setting outside, lighting up Oliver’s handsome face and making me look twice. Sure, I’ve noticed his chiseled jawline and the depths of his blue eyes, but they’ve never sent ripples through the stillness of his chest. Not until today, at least.
I pause in the doorway, watching them, when there’s a knock at the door.
I take one last glance at Oliver and Alice before making my way to the door.
When I open it, Erica steps right inside. As she enters the living room, her face is serious, and her arms are crossed in front of her chest.
“You know we had plans!” she says sternly.
Oliver holds his hands up in surrender, but his expression is one of amusement rather than apology. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
Erica rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth turn up in a smile. “Don’t lie to me.”
He narrows his eyes on her. “Would I ever lie to you, sis?”
“Yes,” Erica mumbles before turning toward me. “Are you okay? Is he giving you any trouble?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No, not at all. I was having a good time with Alice and Oliver before you got here.”
Erica arches an eyebrow and turns to Oliver with a smirk on her face. “Really?”
Oliver shrugs his shoulders with a smug look on his face. “What can I say? I’m a fantastic employer.”
“Well, you’re going to have an even better time once we go out,” Erica tells me. “The club we’re going to just opened up, and I hear all the hottest guys in Seattle are going tonight.” She says that last part quietly so Alice doesn’t hear.
“I thought we were just going out to eat,” I protest.
“No, I told you we should do something more exciting since it’s your first night out as a single lady.”
Suddenly, I feel Oliver’s gaze on me. He watches us closely, his expression unreadable. “Wait,” he says, rising to his feet and crossing over to us. “You two are planning to go hook up with guys?”
“We willnotbe hooking up with any guys,” I point out under my breath.
“Don’t worry about what we do tonight,” Erica retorts. “You might be Catherine’s boss, but she can do whatever she wants during her off hours.”
Oliver turns to me with an expression that’s both serious and compassionate. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” he asks gently. “You don’t have to go if you’re not ready for it.” His eyes soften as he speaks, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Just because you haven’t been out on any dates since you got stood up doesn’t mean you can control Catherine’s dating life,” she scolds him.
“I’m just saying,” Oliver groans.
Erica turns back to me, her expression now grave. “Do you want to go to the club or not, Catherine?”
